November 1st, 2005	Contact: Cameron Hardy 202-224-6441
CHAIRMAN THOMAS REVIEWS PARK POLICIES Wyo Senator: Any change in the balance of resource use, protection has my close attention
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Craig Thomas, Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee, in a hearing today to critique the new park management policies which are currently out for public review, said that any change in the balance of resource use and protection has his close attention. “I’ve always believed the Parks have a dual mission – to both provide recreational opportunities and conserve our national treasures for future generations,” Thomas said. “Today’s hearing will be the first chance to get a range of reactions to the proposed policies. The input will help guide the Park Service in completing the document. As we’ve seen from the public outcry about the leaked internal draft comments, people are passionate about parks – I’m one of those people.” “As the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, I’m interested in any change in the balance between resource use and protection,” Thomas said. “Park Service management policies are developed as a team effort. No single person, Hoffman or anyone else, crafts a management policy without significant input and oversight,” Chairman Thomas said. The hearing will provide oversight to further vet the management policies, and to ensure the policies mesh with the senator’s vision for the parks. The document is out for 90 days of public comment, ending in mid-January 2006. In addition, the Chairman will review the director’s order #21, which addresses donations to the parks and a previously undocumented change to park hiring practices.
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